Display cabinet



3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M Sim/1750??,

Feb. 28, 1939. w. M. SIMPSON DISPLAY CABINET Filed June 24, 1937 R m m mmv.,

Feb. 28, 1939.

w. M. slAMPsoN DISPLAY CABINET F'iled June 24, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR W'lz'am M. Simpson' BY @auf MKr/WJ Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY CABINET Application June 24, 1937, Serial No. 150,089

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a merchandise display cabinet from which the merchandise may be dispensed.

Generally speaking, the primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a cabinet that includes a display section and a bulk supply section, the former of which will accommodate the merchandise in segregated and variable groups and the latter of which will readily present i the supply to the dispenser and yet will protect the supply from deterioration and contamination.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the cabinet, illustrating two forms of the display section;

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the door mechanism of the bulk-dispensing section;

Figure 6 is an end View of one form of merchandise support for use in the display section;

Figure '7 is an end View of another form of such support; and

Figure 8 is a detail sectional View on line 8 8 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the cabinet includes a base I that is adapted to rest upon an ordinary store counter or to be otherwise supported. This base I may be of any desired length, depending upon the length of the display cabinet that is desired.

The cabinet superstructure is formed in units,

as indicated at 2, 3, 4, for instance, in Figure 1. Thus, any number of units may be assembled on the base and the base may be constructed to accommodate the particular number of units selected.

Each of the units includes end walls 5, each of which is preferably of the configuration shown in Figures l and 3, with an upwardly and rearwardly extending front edge and an upwardly and forwardly inclined rear edge. Each of these walls 5 has, preferably, an outer metallic facing 6 with a ller l of such material as wood or the like. The end face of each wall is flat, as shown in the horizontal section (Figure 4); while the inner face is preferably provided with a bevelled face 8 at the forward portion of the cabinet.

The flat face 6 is provided so that it will snugly abut a similar face of an adjacent unit.

Partitions 9 are located between the end walls 5 and are of the same general construction as the walls 5 except that both of the faces I0 and II are bevelled as at I2.

These walls 5 and. partitions 3 are supported upon what shall be termed a unit base I3. This base I3 (see Figure 3) is coextensive with the unit 5 and is adapted to rest on the base I. Each unit base I3 abuts, at its forward edge, against a flange I4 on the base I and is, at its rear edge, provided with a flange I5 that engages the rear edge of the base I. 10

Thus, the locational arrangement is maintained.

Each unit is provided with a front plate I6 that ispreferably of transparent glass. This front plate rests, at I'I-I8, upon the forward edges of the 4 walls 5 and the partitions 3. It is to be observed 15 (Figure 4) that the edge of the front plate that engages the edge of the end wall is substantially in the plane of the outer face thereof to permit the proper location of the front plate of the next adjacent unit. The opposite edge of the front 20 plate IB, however, that rests upon the edge of the partition 9 (see Figure 4) is located between the sides of this front edge to permit the front plate of the next adjacent unit to find support on the edge of the same partition. Thus, the front \2'5 plates form what appears to be a continuous front face.

The front plate I6 is supported at its lower end by a bead I9 that is formed on a metallic facing 2|) at the forward portion of the unit base I3, and 30 cooperates with a metallic facing 2| on the base I to present a finished surface. It is, of course, to be understood that these facings 20 and 2I may be of material other than metal.

At the rear of each unit is a rear wall or rack 22, preferably metal, and having a reenforcing rib 23, preferably of wood covered with metal 24. The back 22 and the covering 24 may both be secured to the wooden rib 23 and together, as at 25, leaving a downwardly extending flange 26 which 40 acts as an abutment for the adjacent door as will later appear. It is to be noted that the rear wall 22 is provided with an upwardly extending top retaining flange 2l.

, The top 28, which is preferably of transparent 45 or translucent glass, rests upon the upper edges 29 of the end walls 5 and partitions 9 and is retained in position by the flange 21 and by a clearance member 30 that is carried by the partitions 9, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. 50

The rear wall 22 is provided with a series of openings that may be closed by doors 3 I.

As shown in Figure 3, each of these doors ls provided with a pivot and sliding hinge that includes brackets 32 carried by the door adjacent 55 its upper edge. To these brackets a U-shaped bar 33 (see Figure 5) is pivoted. This bar depends from the brackets and each of its ends is outturned, as at 34, and slidably engages a slot 35 in a block 36 mounted stationarily on the adjacent wall or partition of the unit.

Each door is preferably provided with an operation handle 31.

Thus each door may, through the medium of its handle, be swung about the pivotal engagement between the brackets 32 and the bar 33 into a substantially horizontal position to permit access to the interior of the cabinet.

Should it be desired, however, to maintain the door in its horizontal or open position, the door may be pushed inwardly into the dotted line position shown in Figure 3. While this is being accomplished the ends 34 of the bar 33 move upwardly in the slots 35 of the block 36 and the door rides on the rod 38 that extends between the adjacent partitions orthe adjacent wall and partition, the'door nally coming to rest on this rod.

To prevent the door from being pushed too far inwardly, it is provided with a stop 39 that engages the rod 38 when the door reaches the desired limit of its inward movement.

The lower edge of each door abuts a flange 4,5 on the unit base I3 which b ase is covered pre1"- erably by facings 4l and 42 of metal and thus closes the opening with which it registers.

In order that the merchandise (or other material) that is contained in bulk in the cabinet may be displayed in an orderly fashion the following is provided:

A sham front 43, preferably of metal, is located beneath and in spaced relation to the front I6 and is supported at its lower end on a iange 44 on the facing 2U. At its upper end the sham front 43 is bent, as at 45, to follow the line of the top 28 and, at its rear edge, it is provided with a plurality of latches 46. Each of these latches is pivoted for axial movement in a bearing 41 and is provided with an operating handle 48 and an angular detent 49. This detent 49 is adapted to enter in a slot 50 and, by gravity, to assume a substantially Vertical position to engage the edge of the slot and maintain the sham front in position.

This sham front 43 is capable of assuming two positions (see full and dotted lines of Figure 3). When it is desired to place the sham front in its dotted line position, the detents 46 are engaged in the slots D (see Figure 8) and the lower end is maintained in its position by fillers 5| that are pivoted at 52 to the sham front 43 (see Figure 3). These llers are simply swung about their pivots until they lie between the sham front and the flange 44, as shown in Figure 3 in dotted lines.

Thus the merchandise may be displayed on the sham front and beneath the glass front I6.

So that the displayed merchandise may be displayed in orderly groups, the sham front is provided with a plurality of horizontal rows of holes 53. Shelves 54, having upwardly opening hooks 55, are adapted to be supported by inserting the hooks 55 in the corresponding holes 53. The leverage of the shelves (see Figure 3) will maintain the shelves in position. 'I'hus the sham front is divided into a plurality of compartments between the partitions and between the adjacent partitions and end wall. The relative sizes of these compartments may be changed at will by shifting the shelves to various positions and engaging the hooks 55 in the proper holes 53.

In order that the bulk supply of the merchandise may be prevented from reaching the sham front and the sham front may be relieved of undue pressure during the dispensing from the bulk supply, a removable wall 56 is arranged in spaced relation to the sham front. This wall 56 is provided with detents 51, similar to the detents in construction and action, that are adapted to be ,engaged` in slots 58 in adjacent partitions ofthe unit.

If desired, one of the units may carry a bracket 59 to support a scale or other necessary instrument.

In Figures 6 and 7 two modications of the sham front are illustrated.

In Figure 6 the front, itself, is in the form of a series of shelves having both shelves 60 and risers 6l with rods 62 bracing the same.

In Figure 7 the construction is substantially the same as in Figure 6 except that the number of shelves is increased.

Thus, it will be seen that a display case is provided in which an exhibition of the merchandise may be presented to the public and the bulk supply stored in such manner that it will be readily accessible to the dispenser and yet protected from deterioration or contamination.

Moreover, the case is so constructed that it is resolved into complete units that may be assembled in the desired number, to create a composite case that has the appearance of a continuity.

The Adisplay portion of the case is so adjustable that it will maintain the merchandise that is on displayrin an orderly arrangement which may be varied at will.

The elements of the case are so constructed that they may be stored and shipped with the consumption of the least amount of space.

I claim:

In a display cabinet, an inclined front wall, a top wall, side and back walls, a base, an inclined sham front Wall, a ange on the base for supporting the lower edge of the sham front wall, latches on the sham front wall adapted to engage the back wall to maintain the upper edge of the sham front wall in various positions, and a filler pivoted to the sham front wall and adapted to be swung between said sham front wall and said flange on the base to maintain said sham front wall spaced from the flange.

WILLIAM M. SIMPSON. 

